Letter from my Mother

Dear Brittany—

I’m thinking about you today as you are so far from home. I keep going over things in my mind. I have had your lifetime to prepare for this time, sometimes wanting it to come quickly and sometimes hoping it would never come. Most of the time though, I have been preparing myself and preparing you, by madly gathering life’s questions and answers in the hope that I haven’t forgotten anything. I keep revising the list inside my head; checking off all the things I know I’ve already told you – so many times. Protecting you and preparing you has been such a big part of who I am – it’s hard to redefine myself and accept that my job is done.

I remind myself that this is about you, but as usual, here I am making it about me again. Slightly neurotic, I find myself wanting to explain or apologize or gain some kind of forgiveness from you. I want to go back into your history and call myself to your attention and wipe the slate clean of all my mistakes. I do admit that I have been less than I should have been at times, and I don’t want you thinking it was your fault or that you didn’t deserve better. Yeah, yeah, I hear you say ‘Don’t worry about it, it doesn’t matter”.

I have such an urge to tell you of promises I made, as you slept below my heart all those years ago. So very real and profound to me, and so intense I’m sure I’d weep if I even tried to tell you. You of course, would shift from one leg to the other and endure my disclosure with patience.

Pictures of first steps, first words and first everything else’s consume me—Tooth fairies, Santa Claus and Easter bunnies, little trophies, wall posters, art projects, dress-up clothes, and Lego buildings. I’m indulging myself, it’s my prerogative. I want to reminisce. I’m going back to the baby and you are going forward to the woman. You have freedom, independence and adventure on your mind. I know you are ready; capable, competent and smarter than I’ll ever be.

My attitude shifts as I accept that you don’t need any precautions, no more moralizing; no more “You know what you should do…” And even though I have represented myself as parent and teacher, I see so clearly that I have also been the pupil. I have learned so much from you, you have played such a large part in molding me into the person I am. You have taught me well and I thank you.

I love you with all of my heart!

Mom

The Joys of Potty Training

I told a few of you the other day that I was working on potty training with Kiera. I had made a skirt for Kiera and you've already seen the post of that but the next day I thought it might be fun to give Kiera some incentive for using the potty. I made a matching skirt and hair bow for one of her teddy bears (who is now called Sarah). I let Kiera open her surprise when she got up that morning and told her that we would set the timer and every time the timer went off it was her job to take Sarah to the potty. Then Sarah would get a sticker (which Kiera gladly put on our potty chart on the back of the bathroom door). All morning and up until nap time Kiera loved her new responsibility. She would get so excited and would stop whatever she was doing to run her new friend to the bathroom. Then it was time for naps.
The other part of the plan would take place when she got up. When Kiera got up I told her it was her turn to go to the potty when the timer went off. She happily did so, but only once! All the other times that I tried to get her to go, she would refuse and throw a fit. So since then we have gradually tried to get her excited again. Every once in awhile she'll ask to go on the potty but we haven't had any luck yet. She does however haul her "Sarah Bear" everywhere and she loves to wear her skirt around during the day (we usually end up putting it on over her pants). What are some things you've done to potty train your little ones?

My first giveaway.

My first giveaway! The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For YOU! I saw this on a blog and I thought, "hmm, in my attempt at being a better person, why not do a little service for friends and loved ones." This is going to be fun and I can't wait to start some new projects. It must be something to do with spring because once the sun comes out I all of the sudden get this huge urge to take on tons of new projects. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations: 1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make! 2. What I create will be just for you. 3. It'll be done this year. Hopefully sooner than later. 4. You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be sewn, painted, written, scrapbooky, or be something totally random that I come up with on a whim. I may even bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure! 5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange. The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. And you have until 2:00 p.m. on March 16th. Let's spread some love! So, the first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they are doing it too win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! (I know...that could either be cool or scary) Who knows! :)Be sure to post pictures of what you won when you recieve it! :) I thought this sounded like a pretty neat idea!

Ok, let's get in the crafting spirit! Leave me a comment telling me that you're going to do it too. The first five get something amazing from me!

A good thing to think about.

I found this quote today and I fell in love with it. "As a stay-at-home mom, I often do the same things over and over: I empty the dishwasher. I sort the laundry. I cook the mac n cheese. Everyday. And in all of those moments that seem so mundane, I have lots and lots of Moments of Meaning. Often with my kids or my husband, or a friend. That's what makes me not just an ordinary mom, but an everyday MOM (Moments of Meaning) mom. I add a little of my job skills to my life as a mom by trying to create order in our often chaotic lives. I know that my work DOES matter because I'm doing the job God gave me to do."
Sometimes we all need that little reminder of why we mothers do what we do. Thanks everyday mom!

The things kids will do for fun

The other day I was sitting on the couch just watching the kids play and I got a video of them playing with, not the toys, but the toy bin. Watch and enjoy. I thought it was fun. Ethan is so patient with Kiera too. I don't know how I'd handle being sat on.

Chugga chugga choo choo

And the little one said roll over...

Ethan videos

I finally got around to uploading a couple of my videos. These two are of Ethan and his amazing mobility. Click on the links to watch them and let me know what you think. I know I am probably the most impressed, but I thought I'd share anyway.


Ethan and his pushcart

My little climber

What are we supposed to learn?

So what are some things we are supposed to learn from this? I am sure many of you have asked the same question when something goes another way than what you've planned. I heard the other day from a very wise man (my husband), "being ok, and having what we want, aren't always the same." Things will work out, it just may not be how we wanted it to.

I have had some time lately to sit and think about this question. So what are we supposed to be learning from all this? I know many people who have lost their jobs some are friends and others are close family. Many more people are being affected by the economy. It is scary to watch and it is stressful to about. These are really hard times. It makes me wonder what we are all supposed to be learning from this. Maybe it is Gods way of telling us we need to pull together more. Maybe he's telling us to focus on the more important things in life. Whatever it is, I know the experience may be hard but we'll pull through it somehow.

I'd like to hear from any of you who are experiencing similar trials. What have you learned or what are you learning?